IN 1999, the Stereophonics famously penned the song ‘As long as we beat the English,’ yet Worcester seem to write their own version of the tune against North-ampton Saints.

Quality and a cutting edge was lacking on a balmy Friday night at Sixways, but as long as Warriors beat whoever is in front of them they won’t care.

After all, a win is a win and with the big boys having so many players out in New Zealand at the World Cup, the Warriors have to take advantage of this period.

The victory over the Saints, courtesy of four Andy Goode penalties, was far from pretty, but isn’t another team throwing the oval ball around at the moment and winning ugly?

If it is good enough for Martin Johnson and England, then surely it should be good enough for Hill and his Warriors.

Winning is all that matters, once that is secure then try and play expansive rugby, because there is absolutely no point whatsoever in an attractive brand of the game when you are losing.

At the end of the season the only thing that will be remembered is the number of games that have been won or lost — not how it was done.

If people are getting upset with the quality of performances on display at this stage of the season then tough, winning breeds confidence — no matter how it is done.

Warriors failed to close the game out against Harlequins the previous weekend and lost late in the day — that didn’t happen this time around.

The loss to Quins undoubtedly hurt Worcester so to be in a similar position against the Saints on Friday would have had a few worried. But a resolute defence and a few stray kicks from Ryan Lamb and it was Warriors who were celebrating.

Everyone knows it should have been more comfortable — especially as Saints lost Brian Mujati to the sin-bin early in the second-half — but it was Warriors who were forced to defend, not their visitors.

But Worcester are not going to get carried away by this success, nor should they, but it is something they can use when they head to the Madejski Stadium on Sunday to face London Irish.

But it won’t be long before the rest of the Premiership begin to get their players back from the World Cup and while the oppositions’ ranks are depleted, Worcester have to fill their boots.

They have one more week to secure another Premiership victory before attentions avert to the LV Cup and a win against the Exiles could be vital at the end of the season.